Signal



Aug. 30, 1938. J. A. cHlNsKEY SIGNAL Filed May 25, 193e hm lll Il." .H IJIIII'I l 6 9 wwae Patented-'Aug 30, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT ovl-FICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to combined signal devices and flash lights and has for an object to provide an improved portable lamp of this character particularly adapted to the utilization of tubes containing a gas such as neon in which an electrical discharge causes luminescence.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact device of this character which will be selectively operable to display a neon danger sig nal such as danger ol' stop, or to be used as an ordinary ash light.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order..

With the above and other yobjects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of con-- struction and combinations of parts hereinafterv fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modications may be resorted to withinthelscope o1' the appended claim Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specication,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a combined signal and ash light constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device with parts in end elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail elld elevation showing the means for applying and removing the flash light lens to replace a burned out bulb.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the switch for selectively controlling the danger signal light or the flash light.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections of the device.

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view' showing'a modified form of electrical connections.

Referring now to the drawing in which like y characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, ill designates a casing having the bottom closed by a cap Il, one edge of which is provided with a recess I2, as best shown in Figure 3, tol receive a projection I3 on the casing, thus forming a hinge upon which the cap may be swung open against the pressure of a. spring pressed pin I4 disposed in the casing diametrically opposite the projection I3. The top of the casing is flared at the sides, as also best shown in Figure 3, and is provided with an opening I5 to receive a reflector I6 and a. lens I1 for housing a ilash light bulb I8. A retaining ring I9 removably secures the lens in place to permit replacement of a burned out bulb. Oppositely disposed pins are secured to the top of 5 the casing and have restricted necks to work in bayonet slots 2| formed in the ring to removably secure the ring in place.

A substantially U-shaped plate 22 of insulating material is secured to the back of the casing by 1 means of screws 23, as best shown in Figure 2.

A conductor bar 24 is secured to the inner face of one leg of the plate and a conductor bar 25 is secured to the inner face of the other leg of the plate. Leaf springs 2s and 21 named by the 15 bars removably secure a battery cell 28 in the casing and electrically connect the poles thereof to the bars 24 and 25. Similar springs 29 and 30 removably secure a battery cell 3| in the casing above the battery cell 28. 20

A transformer 32 is secured to the legs of the plate 22 above the battery cells', and is equipped with a vibrator 33 to alternately make and break the primary of the coil whereby high tension alternating current is induced in the secondary 25 winding of the coil. l

A step up transformer 34 is secured to the legs of the plate 22 in superposed relation to the transformer 32 directly inrear of a shield 35 Which is substantially U-shape in cross section, as best shown in Figure 3. The shield is disposed in rear of an opening 36, as best shown in Figure 2, formed in the front wall of the casing near the top thereof. A transparent pane 31 closes the opening and is held in position in a 35 rabbet 38 in the casing by pressure of the shield.A` It will be observed that the shield is formed of spring metal and that the legs are terminally directed in a reverse direction to form a channel 'which receives the sides of an oblong frame 39 40 whereby the shield is confined snugly in place and in turn holds the pane 31 in place.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5 a substantially U shaped switch arm 40 is pivoted on a pivot pin 4I secured to one of the legs of the U-shaped plate 22, one end of the switch arm being directed outwardly to form a grip 42 which passes through an opening 43 for rocking the switch to either of its two closed positions or to neutral position. Switch contacts 43' and 44 are disposed on-op- 50 posite sides of the switch arm and are selectively engageable by the switch arm to close the circuit to the flash light or to the neon light about to be described.

A neon light 45 is disposed within the enclosure 55 of the shield and may be secured to the pane by glass lugs 46 or may be otherwise secured in position. The neon light is of such form as to constitute a signal word such as stop or danger.

The electrical connections of the device are best shown in Figure 6 in which it will be seen that conductor wires 41 and 48 connect the terminals of the flash light I8 with the battery cells and with the switch contact 43 respectively. The primary winding of the transformer 32 is connected by conductor wires 48 and 50 to `the battery cells and to the switch arm respectively. The secondary winding of the transformer 32 is connected by conductor Wires 5|, and 52 to the primary winding of the transformer 34. 'Ihe secondary winding of the transformer 34 is connected by conductor wires 53 and 54 to the terminals in the neon tube so that the high tension alternating current from the transformer 34 will create luminescence in the neon gas in the well known manner when the switch arm 40 is moved to engage the switch contact 44.

In some instances it may be desirable to dispense with the step up transformer 34 and to employ merely a single transformer 55 similar to the transformer 32 in connection with battery cells 56 for supplying the neon light 51 with high tension alternating current as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 7. The rest of the electrical connections for supplying the flash light 58 with current are the same as previously described.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

In a. portable flashlight unit, a casing of substantially rectangular cross section providing a wide front wall to display a warning signal, a substantially U-shaped plate in the casing removably secured to the rear wall of the casing and having parallel legs extending along the ends of the casing toward the front wall of the casing, a battery in the casing carried by said legs. a transformer secured to said legs above the battery, a make and break device for the transformer, a window pane in the front wall of the casing, a reflector in rear of said pane, a neon light in the casing between thqnane and the reflector, circuit wires connecting the transformer to the neon light, circuit wires connecting the battery to the transformer, and a switch on the casing controlling the flow of current to the last named circuit wires.

JOSEPH A. CHINSKEY. 

